Concerned about the watchful eyes of others, Li Shuchen did not contradict in the end, but only ordered Yan Jiu to have the tenant farmers distribute the potatoes.
He and Qi Huan walked leisurely behind, gradually leaving a distance from the enthusiastic crowd.
Looking around and seeing no one nearby, Li Shuchen then took Qi Huan's hand and carefully wiped the dirt off her palms that she had not cleaned properly.
"Shuchen, after the potatoes mature, the tenant farmers will keep half of the harvest. If they can't finish it, I want to buy the excess potatoes.
Potatoes can also be made into starch, and noodles. We can rely on the Yunying Caravan to sell them to other prefectures. This way, the tenant farmers can also earn some silver, and buy warm clothes.
Plus, making starch also requires labor, so I can hire their families, giving them additional income."
This was just Qi Huan's initial idea, and there may be many areas that needed to be improved. But she felt that one shouldn't hesitate in life, and could only try to find out.
Expanding the starch workshop would not only help others but also benefit herself. On one hand, she could earn more silver, and on the other, she could accumulate more credits.
The more Qi Huan thought about it, the more excited she became, her bright eyes slowly curving into a crescent moon.
Li Shuchen gazed down at her intently, feeling that everything around him had paled in comparison. Only she shone like a brilliant pearl, leaving a deep imprint on his heart.
He loved the warmth she gave, and her cheerfulness and kindness.
His late mother had instilled in him many reasons to protect the world and the people, a responsibility ingrained in him from birth.
Now, this responsibility had added a tender affection.
He also wanted to protect Huan's hopes and expectations, to ensure that the people of the world were well-fed, warmly clothed, and lived in peace and contentment.
Thinking of this, Li Shuchen nodded firmly and said, "I will help you plan this."
After a pause, he continued, refining her idea.
"It will be some time before the potatoes mature, but we can lay the groundwork for sales in advance. I will have the Yunying Caravan transport more potatoes and send them to Lv Yin. We can recruit more helpers to produce a batch of starch first, send it to the Yunying Caravan, and have them sell it in other prefectures."
Qi Huan kicked the dirt in front of her feet and nodded, "It may not be easy to sell starch directly, so why don't I write down the recipe for crispy meat, and they can bring the recipe and starch to local restaurants to seek cooperation?
Besides making crispy meat, starch also has many other uses.
For example, coating thin slices of meat with a layer of starch before frying will make the meat more tender. Using starch to thicken soup will also make it more viscous.
Besides starch, we can also make potato noodles..."
The two walked and dreamed, not realizing that they had reached the courtyard gate where they had started.
By this time, the sun was gradually setting in the west, and it would take about an hour to return home. Qi Huan ended the topic with a smile, "Shuchen, let's discuss it more when we get back. Let's go home first."
"Okay."
They rode together again, galloping their horses. As they neared home, Qi Huan saw wisps of cooking smoke rising from the kitchen in the distance.
Upon entering, she saw that it was Xiu Wen cooking.
"Your Highness, you're back? It will be ready in a little while."
As he spoke, he scooped out the cooked noodles and put them in a clay basin to cool with cold water.
Then, he heated oil in a wok, poured in the beaten egg mixture, and when the eggs were slightly set, he quickly scrambled them with chopsticks and scooped them out.
He added more oil, put in diced tomatoes and sautéed them until soft and mashed. After adding broth, he mixed in the scrambled eggs. The tomato-topped noodles were done.
Considering that Qi Huan was still observing a vegetarian diet during her mourning period, he also stir-fried some yellow bean paste and sliced cucumber.
Seeing him skillfully prepare a meal, Qi Huan raised her eyebrows in surprise, "I didn't expect you to be so good at cooking."
At that moment, Yan Qinghe was leaning against the kitchen doorframe, peering inside.
He sniffed and swallowed, continuing the conversation, "Huan, you just didn't know. Xiu Wen has practiced this.
These days, Miss Lu hasn't been able to move on from her previous trauma and has been suspicious of the food prepared by the kitchen maids, so Xiu Wen has been cooking noodles for her. Even eating noodles every day, Miss Lu doesn't find it boring."
Upon hearing this, Xiu Wen became flustered and knocked over a ceramic bowl on the counter. He hurriedly explained, "Miss Qi, don't listen to his teasing. I... used to do servant's work before, so learning some cooking skills was just a matter of convenience."
"That's great," Qi Huan smiled. "Yueming may not have been in a good mood lately. As her tutor, you should keep her company more."
Through Yan Qinghe's occasional remarks, she could also tell that Xiu Wen had feelings for Lu Yueming.
Since they were mutually interested, it was fine for her to give them a little nudge occasionally.
With her saying this, a cloud of worry appeared on Xiu Wen's brow as he sighed, "That's right... but it's difficult to cure a heart ailment. I don't know how to make her truly laugh wholeheartedly like before."
Qi Huan considered Yueming's preferences and her experience today, and suggested, "Why don't we invite Yueming to go horse riding?"
"That's a great idea! I love it!" Yan Qinghe was the first to agree, scratching his head and adding, "Miss Lu will definitely like it too!"
As they were discussing this, Qi Huan's stomach suddenly started growling. She had been out and about all afternoon and was a little hungry.
Hearing the noise, Li Shuchen immediately said, "Eat first."
After the meal.
Just as Yan Qinghe was about to bring up horse riding again, he was interrupted by Yan Wu, who asked disdainfully, "What's that smell?"
Pointing at the garlic skin near the bowl, Yan Qinghe breathed into his palm, then moved it to his nose and sniffed, answering, "It might be the garlic. The old saying goes, 'Eating noodles without garlic is only half the flavor.' You should try it too."
"Take it away."
"No."
"I think you need to be taught a lesson." With that, Yan Wu grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out to the courtyard to spar.
As Xiu Wen was cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks, he said, "Your Highness, can I borrow a few horses from the Yunying Caravan tomorrow so we can invite Yueming to go horse riding?"
Seeing he was so enthusiastic, Qi Huan quickly nudged Li Shuchen and whispered, "Agree! Agree!"
Li Shuchen nodded reluctantly.
After getting his approval, Xiu Wen took the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen, his steps becoming much lighter.
The room fell quiet. Qi Huan discreetly pulled her foot back, feeling a little embarrassed at Li Shuchen's gaze. She decided to do something to divert his attention.
"Li Shuchen, shall we write down what we discussed this afternoon and turn it into a proposal?"
Li Shuchen was hearing the term "proposal" for the first time, but he was already accustomed to Qi Huan occasionally coming out with novel words.
After answering with a "sure", he went back to his room to fetch paper and pens.
Qi Huan ground the ink, while he wrote. The plans in their minds gradually took shape on the paper.
The amber candlelight flickered gently in the evening breeze coming in, and Qi Huan thought: The dim light is not good for the eyes.
So she went back to her room, retrieved the nightglow pearls gifted by Li Shuchen, and called Yan Qinghe and the other two in. Each holding two pearls, they arranged themselves around the table at a suitable height, surrounding it on all sides.
The light immediately became much brighter.
Li Shuchen looked up and glanced at the three of them, feeling that they shone even more brilliantly than the nightglow pearls in their hands.
In Qi Huan's consciousness, the system also remarked: "The host really lacks romantic sensibilities, inviting three big lamps inside like this!"
